The Brothers Rule - Carolyn Faulkner Page 0,26

evening crying alone into her beer, she awoke to the sound of her fire alarm going off. And it wasn't just that annoying fucking beep when the batteries were low, but actually off! It was yelling in its terribly robotic voice, "Fire! Fire! Fire!"

So, she got up, and thankful that she was on the ground floor, she was able to bust out the screen in her window as the room filled with smoke, and she got out quickly.

The fire and police departments both showed up, sirens splitting the night and hurting her ears. Eventually, as she stood there shivering in the rain, she was given a blanket by someone.

A crowd had gathered around where the firemen were working until the cops moved them back, and she sat down on the curb across the street, just trying to stay out of everyone's way as she watched flames sweep through the place.

Luckily, they caught it in time that the building wasn't a total loss, but it was certainly not livable, especially the bottom floor.

Lovely. This was just exactly what she needed—not.

Then she felt hands on her shoulders.

It was Ryan. One of his friends in the department had given him a call because he knew that he was dating someone who lived in this building.

Laurie stood and threw herself into his arms.

"Aw, Laur, I'm so sorry." He hugged her tightly then pushed her a step away from him. "Are you okay? No injuries?"

"No. I was lucky."

Suddenly, she was seized by another pair of enormous hands and arms and brought up against Jace's big frame. "You're okay?" he asked, and she would have sworn that she felt a shudder run through his big body.

"Yes, I am, thanks." She hugged him back and then was passed to Adam, who cuddled her close.

"I'm so glad you're all right," he whispered.

Ryan cupped her cheek even as Adam still held her. "I'm just going to go see what's what, and I'll come right back."

Laurie nodded and was immediately sandwiched between the two remaining brothers, who made sure she was warm and that the blanket remained around her shoulders.

When Ryan returned, he was shaking his head. "Not good news, I'm afraid. It was an electrical fire, and it's going to be a while before you'll be able to move back in."

Laurie hung her head for a long moment as six arms wrapped around her, and somehow, it wasn't uncomfortable or awkward. It actually felt quite wonderful.

Then she moved a bit, and they all released her. She brought out her phone. "Okay, then. I'll call Melita and see if I can bunk with her."

"She doesn't have much room, though, does she?"

"No, but I can sleep on her couch," Laurie told Adam while she got to Melita's number.

Jace looked at his brothers for their quiet assent, which was immediately given, then caught her chin, bringing her attention to him.

"There's no need for that. You don't want to sleep on a couch for months on end. You're coming home with me—us. To our house. The ranch. Even when we were all living there, there were still two spare bedrooms, so you'll have a room all to yourself."

Her first reaction was, "No, I don't want to impose."

She got an identical "look" from all three of them at that.

So, she changed tactics. "But you live so far out of town. How'll I get to work?"

"I'll start sleeping there and bring you in with me," Adam offered. "Your shifts start around the same time as mine."

Laurie shook her head. "I wouldn't want to put you out, and you don't work every day that I do. You have your own place, anyway, Adam. It's stupid for you to move back for me."

Adam looked stubborn. "Most of my stuff is still at the house. I sleep there on long weekends all the time. It's no problem at all. It's the perfect solution."

Not to be outdone by his older brothers, Ryan offered, "I'll sleep at home, too, and when Adam can't take you in, I will. I'll pick you up, too."

With all of this excitement, on top of how badly she'd been feeling before her life went up in flames, Laurie felt much less able to make a decision than she had before. And they were all being so nice to her that it was nearly unbearable.

The boys waited for her to say something, but she just stood there, huddled in on herself and clinging to the blanket.

As far as Jace was concerned, that settled it. "Adam, will